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Category Archives: Social Media

We, #Choice4Life Advocates – a team of 58 young professionals promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Adolescents in Nigeria hereby demand an immediate release of our colleague – Mr. Simon Ateba by the Cameroonian authorities.

Simon Ateba – Journalist & #Choice4Life Advocate

We read with utmost shock and dismay the reports of arrest and detention of our colleague – Mr. Simon Ateba. According to media reports, he was arrested on Friday, 28th August, 2015 at the Minawao Refugee Camp and taken to Makolo in the far north of Cameroon and has been accused of spying for the Boko Haram terrorists. When allowed to use his mobile phone for five minutes, Mr. Ateba alerted the world about his ordeal through his social media platforms. He said he has been told that he would be taken to Yaoundé, the Cameroonian capital, and handed over to the secret police to be tried for espionage. His whereabouts has since been unknown and concerns are being raised about his health conditions.

Simon joined our group in November 2014 and has used his media platforms to promote reproductive health and rights of Nigerian women and young girls. Though a Cameroonian, he is a popular blogger/journalist who has worked in Nigeria for more than a decade. He breaks real time news stories using his blog www.simonateba.com and his facebook fanpage has over 15,000 followers. He was a former staff of The News/PM News – a reputable media outfit in Lagos. He has been a resourceful, inspiring and innovative young man who is very passionate about his job.

Our investigation reveals that Simon is implementing a grant from the Nigerian-based International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) as reportedly confirmed by the Executive Director, Dayo Aiyetan. He had a task to visit the Refugee Camp that accommodates people displaced by the insurgency in Northeast Nigeria and find about their living conditions. His reports, we believe, would have provided information on the sacrifices being made by the government of Cameroon as well as actions that could be taken to improve their living conditions. To us, Simon’s mission to his home country was noble, professional and lawful.

#Choice4Life Advocates consider the allegations by Cameroonian authorities outrageous and bizarre. We also consider his arrest and detention ill-conceived and undeserved given that he had made futile attempt to get permission from the Regional Governor. It is a violation of his fundamental human rights and an attack on the media. Any responsible government is obliged to respect the right to freedom of expression and ensure that journalists are free to carry out their legitimate duties without hindrance, intimidation or threat. We appeal to the African Union and the international community to prevail on the authorities of Cameroon to release him immediately and unconditionally.

We hereby join the Cameroon Journalists Union and other well-meaning groups and individuals to demand that the authorities #FreeSimonAtebaNow!

Plugged into the global euphoria of the 6th Social Media Day, which is annually marked on June 30, Africa for the first time celebrated the Social Media Day with continental pulse using the hashtag #SMDayAfrica.

The Social Media Day Africa #SMDayAfrica celebration is a parallel event with the global Social Media Day launched in 2010 by Mashable – a global technology firm. #SMDayAfrica was organized by the Social Media Awards Africa, #SMAA, as an all-day continent-wide virtual event to commemorate the 2015 Social Media Day from an African perspective with global ambience.

The event which featured eight (8) sessions cutting across diverse sectors and countries of the continent had appearances from leading industry experts with a knack for social media such as Maverick Music Producer, Don Jazzy; HR Expert, Jimi Tewe; Songstress, Simphiwe Dana; Social Commentator, Japheth Omojuwa; Social Media Denizens, Subomi Plumtre and Chioma Chuka; Representatives of the African Media Initiative, AMI; Social Innovators, Yemi Adamolekun and Seun Onigbinde; as well as winners, finalists and nominees of the maiden Social Media Awards Africa #SMAA from across the continent – Ben Kiruthi, Michael Hlatshwayo, Jimi Tewe, Barefootlaw, The Love Tour,Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Youth and ICT, DHL Africa, Stand to End Rape, Adforumco, KCB Group, Afrinolly, #TheNiteTalk, Raha 2.0, Nigeria Trade Hub; amongst other prominent personalities, social media enthusiasts and users across the continent.

The hashtag #SMDayAfrica which started trending in Nigeria within 2 hours of launch had an all-day penetration across Africa reaching over 30million Twitter users. The celebration also had other events at country-levels with active participations by the online community including #SMAA winners, finalists and nominees in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco.

Opening the conversation on the realities of social media usage and practice in Africa, Chioma Chuka posited that although gradual progress is been made on internet penetration across the continent, yet, more needs to be done on digital penetration and local content generation. Chioma urged Africans to be conscious to their online existence. HR Expert, Jimi Tewe, explained that social media is a growing component of online recruitment which Africans need to come to terms with.

Don Jazzy and Simphiwe Dana, however had a point of difference on whether or not music artistes need to be signed to a record label, considering the growing popularity of digital collaboration – see conversation here.

Sterling Bank Plc, lead sponsor of the Social Media Awards Africa #SMAA, explained that the future of banking on the African continent is social, which, the bank says it is taking the lead in innovating the path and pattern towards the social media boom. The innovative #Onecustomer financial institution which has clearly set the pace in social banking, participated actively and engaged stakeholders for an hour’s session entitled: ‘The Social Media Story: Me and My Bank.’

Relating governance with social media practice in Africa, Seun Onigbinde of BudgIT and Yemi Adamolekun of Enough Is Enough, agreed that although social media tools are viable in advancing governance and accountability processes in Africa, they however cannot in isolation pull through on the desired social needs of the continent, hence, the need for offline and online convergence.

Citing emerging trends such as digital jobs and cloud computing, experts raised the need for Africans to acquire requite digital skills in order to be effectively relevant in the globalized world. They also challenged the African continent to influence and develop itself through local content production and distribution.

Subomi Plumtre challenged African businesses to be more social, leveraging the power of cost-effective social media tools and platforms

Wrapping the all-day TweetChat, was the relationship session tagged: E-Relationship: Love through the web. Gist, Gossip and Tips, anchored by #TheNiteTalk – @LtCaezar, winner of the 2014 #SMAA hashtag of the year award.

As the maiden continental celebration of the world Social Media Day, #SMDayAfrica has succeeded in establishing an African perspective to social media, through robust virtual engagement, education and entertainment.

In coming years, it is hoped that the Social Media Day celebration in Africa will be bigger and broader, towards enriching continental good.

Conversations and other activities of the #SMDayAfrica celebration can be followed via: @sma_africa on Twitter or through Storify.

ABOUT #SMDayAfrica

The Social Media Day Africa #SMDayAfrica is to recognize and celebrate social media’s impact on Africa’s communication and growth, blending the African perspective with global ambience.

This day is marked annually on June 30th in consonance with the global Social Media Day celebration as launched by Mashable, a global tech and social media firm.

ABOUT #SMAA

The Social Media Awards Africa #SMAA is a premier continental initiative poised to recognise and reward excellence, creativity and impact in the use of social media tools and platforms by individuals and organisations.

The Social Media Awards Africa is an initiative of Development Diaries and sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc.